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New Jersey driving lesson · Safe Driving Rules

Right-of-way and intersections

A 4-minute lesson from the New Jersey course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Safe Driving Rules
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
67, 68, 69, 70

Most crashes happen at intersections. Right-of-way rules decide who goes first, but the law never gives you the right to force your way. Be ready to yield even when the other driver should have.

Always yield to

  • Emergency vehicles giving warning signals (sirens, flashing lights)
  • Trains approaching a railroad crossing
  • Buses and postal vehicles re-entering the flow of traffic
  • Motorized or mobility-assistance devices in a crosswalk or seeking to cross
  • Other vehicles already in the intersection
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

A single solid white line across the road at an intersection means you must stop behind it for a traffic signal or sign.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Controlled intersection

One with traffic signals or signs in any direction, or controlled by a police officer. You must obey the signals and signs.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

At a multi-way stop, if two drivers arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on the right. Also yield to a driver already stopped at the intersection.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

At a yield sign, slow down and yield to traffic on the intersecting road, even if you must stop.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

At a stop sign, come to a complete stop within five feet of the nearest crosswalk or stop line, then go only after yielding to traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

Driving on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign is a motor vehicle violation.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Uncontrolled intersection

Where two or more roads join with no traffic signal or regulatory device. Slow down and be ready to stop for traffic from the right or left.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

A driver coming from a private road or driveway must yield to all traffic on the main road. As a rule, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

When a traffic signal is dark because of a power failure or malfunction, treat it as a 4-way stop.

Handbook p. 69 ↗

Know the rule

Where buildings, parked cars, bushes, trees or crops block your view, slow down or stop completely to be sure there is no cross traffic.

Handbook p. 70 ↗

Know the rule

Traffic circles have no set rules in New Jersey: the established flow, a major highway through the circle, and posted stop or yield signs decide. If in doubt, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 70 ↗

Put it into practice

You and another car reach a four-way stop at the same moment; it is on your right. Let it go first. If a third car was already stopped when you arrived, it goes before both of you.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

At an uncontrolled intersection where two vehicles arrive at the same time, who has the right-of-way?
  1. The vehicle on the left
  2. The vehicle going straight
  3. Whichever vehicle arrived from a main road
  4. The vehicle on the right

Answer: The vehicle on the right

As a rule at uncontrolled intersections, the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 69 ↗
At a multi-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. What is the rule?
  1. Yield to the vehicle on the right
  2. Yield to the vehicle on the left
  3. The first driver to signal goes first
  4. The vehicle going straight goes first

Answer: Yield to the vehicle on the right

At a multi-way stop, a motorist must yield to the motorist on the right if both arrive at the same time.

Handbook p. 69 ↗
A traffic signal is completely dark due to a power failure. How should this intersection be treated?
  1. As a flashing yellow signal
  2. As a 4-way stop
  3. As a yield-only intersection
  4. Traffic should proceed at normal speed

Answer: As a 4-way stop

When a traffic signal is not illuminated due to a power failure or malfunction, it is treated as a 4-way stop.

Handbook p. 69 ↗
At a controlled intersection with a stop sign, within what distance of the crosswalk or stop line must a motorist stop?
  1. Within 25 feet
  2. Within 15 feet
  3. Within 50 feet
  4. Within five feet

Answer: Within five feet

A motorist must bring the vehicle to a complete stop at a point within five feet of the nearest crosswalk or stop line at a stop sign.

Handbook p. 69 ↗
A bus is pulling away from a stop to re-enter the flow of traffic. What must an approaching motorist do?
  1. Yield the right-of-way to the bus
  2. Keep going; the bus must wait for a gap
  3. Yield only if it is a school bus
  4. Pass the bus before it merges

Answer: Yield the right-of-way to the bus

Motorists must yield to buses re-entering the flow of traffic.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
At an intersection controlled by a yield sign, a motorist must slow down and yield to intersecting traffic, but is never required to come to a complete stop.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

At a yield sign, a motorist must slow down and yield, even if that means coming to a complete stop.

Handbook p. 69 ↗
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